Pleasant Valley, Monmouth County, New Jersey Explained

Pleasant Valley, New Jersey
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:USA New Jersey Monmouth County#USA New Jersey#USA
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Pleasant Valley in Monmouth County Inset: Location of county within the state of New Jersey
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Monmouth
Subdivision Type3:Township
Subdivision Name3:Marlboro
Elevation Ft:197
Coordinates:40.3667°N -74.2131°W
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:879364
Unit Pref:imperial

Pleasant Valley is an unincorporated community located within Marlboro Township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[1] The area reportedly received its name from George Washington after he went through the area in 1777.[2] The area is hilly and forested and is dotted by medium to large-sized residences. Pleasant Valley Road and Reids Hill Road are main roads that pass through the area connecting to Routes 34, 79, and 520. A large part of land which makes up Pleasant Valley was originally granted by the King of England in 1665 to the Rev. Obadiah Holmes.[3] In 1690, the area was settled by people of Dutch heritage and the original dominant language in the area was Low Dutch.[4]

Farming and hunting history

Largely starting as a farming community; Apples and a type of potato called "giant" were a common crop for the area (a giant potato is roughly about the size and shape of an American football).[5] In 1916, the area "broke all records, harvesting 100 barrels of potatoes per acre.[6] The area was also known for horse farms in the 1800s. One famous trotter came from this area. In 1849, George M. Patchen was foaled. He stood 16 hands high. He was bred by HF Sickles and in 1860 trotted a record 2:23.5 at Union Course, NY.[7] Colonel Baker reported using this horse during the 1862 Second Manassas Campaign of the 1st DC Cav.[8]

In the 1950s, the area was known for pheasant hunting. This was largely due to the Pleasant Valley Game Protective Association action to release 500 pheasants in the area, the day before hunting season started. The practice went on till 1960.[9]

Revolutionary War

The scene of armed conflict during the Revolutionary War, there were skirmishes between patriot forces and the Tories and Pine Robbers;[10] reports of British foraging in this area and taking hogs, cattle and sheep back to New York were common.[11] [12] In 1778, an attack on the farm of Daniel P. Schenck resulted in his death. After breaking off the attach and leaving, his wife pursued the Tories and Pine Robbers and killed one of the attackers.[13] Another documented revolutionary war fight happened on June 21, 1781 in this area. The evidence of this fighting after the war was documented in the pension of Walter Hier. He received 16 shilling, 8 pence a month for receiving a wound to his right arm "by a sword or cutlass" during hand-to-hand fighting at Pleasant Valley.[14] A four-pound cannon was placed on a farm in the area as a signal gun. When fired, the enemy was near and the local patriots would know to rally at a local farm.[15]

School

Historic property

Historic markers

Unusual local events

Notes and References

  1. http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search
  2. "Colonial Air Clings to Pleasant Valley", Asbury Park Press, July 11, 1943, Page 3
  3. "Prentice Buys 111-Acre Farm", Asbury Park Press, April 9, 1937, Page 4
  4. Steeped in Dutch Heritage, Asbury Park Press, June 4, 1967, Page 15
  5. "Record Price for farms at Holmdel", Asbury Park Press, June 19, 1917, Page 7
  6. "Potato Yield Heavy Price Remains High", Asbury Park Press, August 26, 1916, Page 2
  7. John Hankins Wallace, Wallace Year Book - Trotting and Pacing, American Trotting Register Association, 1887, pg 292
  8. La Fayette Curry Baker, History of the United States Secret Service, Philadelphia, LC Baker, 1867, page 330
  9. "Morton Allen ExFarmer in Holmdel", Asbury Park Press, August 3, 1960, Page 2
  10. "Farm at Holmdel Purchased by May", Asbury Park Press, Nov 14 1933, Page 16
  11. "Pleasant Valley Livestock Taken by British", Asbury Park Press, September 3, 1914, Page 4
  12. "Lincroft in History", Asbury Park Press, October 29, 1939, Page 10
  13. "Waterborne Minute Men of Revolution Harassed British", Asbury Park Press, July 10, 1949, Page 3
  14. "Neversink Battle Recalled", Asbury Park Press, July 9, 1967, Page 15
  15. "Revolutionary Period", Asbury Park Press, May 5, 1974, Page 27
  16. "Marlboro", Asbury Park Press, September 10, 1918, Page 5
  17. "Freehold's New Mayor", Asbury Park Press, January 13, 1946, Page 5
  18. "Lincroft", Asbury Park Press, June 3, 1942, Page 9
  19. "Broker Buys Faraway Farm", Asbury Park Press, September 28, 1946,
  20. "Marlboro Group Acts to Preserve Historic Pleasant Valley Section", Asbury Park Press, June 18, 1967, Page 8
  21. "Patchen Race Day Scheduled, Asbury Park Press, July 7, 1971
  22. "Sandy Hook Park Program Described for DAR Chapter", Asbury Park Press, March 31, 1967, Page 12
  23. Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, Volume 103, 1969, Page 180
  24. "The Hornets Nest", Red Bank Register, September 28, 1973
  25. "Sea Chart Victor in 1933", Asbury Park Press, October 18, 1934, Page 14
  26. "Fifth Annual Meet of County Hunt Racing Association", Asbury Park Press, October 4, 1930, page 15
  27. "Two races for Farmers", Asbury Park Press, October 10, 1933, Page 12
  28. "Coq Bruyere to Defend Cup in Annual Hunt Race Meet", Asbury Park Press, October 20, 1939, Page 14
  29. "Stender Will Lose Sight Of One Eye", Asbury Park Press, June 30, 1932, Page 4
  30. "Pilot Escapes as Plane Crashes near Holmdel", Asbury Park Press, November 17, 1939, Page 1

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